SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's
dependence on imported fossil fuels drains the state economy of billions of
dollars each year. The volatility of imported fuel prices creates significant
risks for the economy and adds to costs for local families. The legislature
further finds that the use of fossil fuel reduces air quality and leads to
increased greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. This contributes to
climate change, which poses a serious threat to Hawaii's economic well-being,
public health, natural resources, and environment. Climate change harms marine
ecosystems and causes sea levels to rise, which results in the displacement of
coastal residences and businesses. Climate change also poses a serious threat
to public health by increasing the incidences of infectious diseases, asthma,
and other health-related problems.

The legislature notes that on a per-mile basis,
it is significantly less expensive to commute in an electric vehicle than it is
to commute in a gas-powered automobile. Residents can lower their cost of
living by relying on local renewable energy for transportation and
transitioning to less-expensive renewable vehicles and transportation systems.
The legislature further finds that autonomous electric vehicles already
operating on public roads in cities around the country signal an approaching
revolution in transportation that has the potential to dramatically reduce
costs for consumers and change the way people commute. However, in order for
local consumers and families to benefit from these changes and properly
transition away from expensive fossil fuel vehicles, Hawaii must be prepared
with critical infrastructure elements, such as electric vehicle charging
stations.

The purpose of this Act is to begin the
transition to 100 per cent clean ground transportation in Hawaii by:

(1) Establishing a clean ground transportation
benchmark framework, including a near term 2025 target supporting Hawaii’s goal
for the reduction and ultimate elimination of the use of imported fuels for
ground transportation; and

(2) Directing the department of transportation to
collaborate with the state energy office to identify a plan and develop
recommendations to support the achievement of benchmarks leading to the
ultimate elimination of imported fuels for ground transportation.

SECTION 2. Chapter 264, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:

"§264- Hawaii
clean ground transportation initiative.(a) The department of
transportation, in collaboration with the state energy office of the department
of business, economic development, and tourism, shall:

(1)Identify a plan to make progress toward
the one hundred per cent clean ground transportation goals identified in
section 196-10.5(a)(8);

(2)Develop recommendations regarding the
additional steps necessary to help achieve the goals of this section; and

(3)Convene stakeholders in a clean ground transportation
forum to solicit and incorporate input on the department of transportation's
clean ground transportation activities to help achieve the goals of this
section.

(b) In its annual report submitted to the
legislature pursuant to part II of Act 100, Session Laws of Hawaii 1999, the
department of transportation shall include recommendations as developed
pursuant to this section.

"(a) There
is established within the department of business, economic development, and
tourism, a Hawaii clean energy initiative program to manage the State's
transition to a clean energy economy. The clean energy program shall design,
implement, and administer activities that include:

(1) Strategic
partnerships for the research, development, testing, deployment, and permitting
of clean and renewable technologies;

(3) Electric grid
reliability and security projects that will enable the integration of a
substantial increase of electricity from renewable-energy resources;

(4) A statewide clean
energy public education and outreach plan to be developed in coordination with
Hawaii's institutions of public education;

(5) Promotion of
Hawaii's clean and renewable resources to potential partners and investors;

(6) A plan, to be
implemented from 2011 to [2030,] 2045, to transition the State to
a clean energy economy; [and]

(7) A plan, to be
implemented from 2011 to [2030,] 2045, to assist each county in
transitioning to a clean energy economy[.]; and

(8)A plan,
to be implemented between 2017 and 2025 to achieve a reduction of five per cent
in fossil fuel for ground transportation relative to 2016 levels and shall include
metrics to measure and evaluate progress towards the target fossil fuel
reductions in ground transportation, to be established by the state energy
office; provided that two years prior to the completion of the plan and every
five years thereafter, a report shall be submitted to the legislature that
includes:

(A)Progress towards the established
target benchmarks;

(B)Proposals for legislative
actions to support the achievement of the next fossil fuel reduction in
transportation benchmark; and

(C)A new target benchmark for the
reduction of fossil fuels in ground transportation for five years from the previous
target."

"(a) Planning for the State's facility
systems with regard to transportation shall be directed towards the achievement
of the following objectives:

(1) An integrated multi-modal transportation system
that services statewide needs and promotes the efficient, economical, safe, and
convenient movement of people and goods[.];

(2) A statewide transportation system that is
consistent with and will accommodate planned growth objectives throughout the
State[.]; and

(3)Increased energy security and
self-sufficiency through the reduction and ultimate elimination of imported
fuels for ground transportation, in accordance with benchmarks established
pursuant to section 196-10.5(a)(8)."

"(a) Planning for the State's facility
systems with regard to energy shall be directed toward the achievement of the
following objectives, giving due consideration to all:

(1) Dependable, efficient, and economical statewide
energy systems capable of supporting the needs of the people;

(2) Increased energy security and self-sufficiency
through the reduction and ultimate elimination of Hawaii's dependence on
imported fuels for electrical generation [and ground transportation] in
accordance with the ground transportation benchmarks established pursuant to
section 196-10.5(a)(8);

(3) Greater diversification of energy generation in
the face of threats to Hawaii's energy supplies and systems;

(4) Reduction, avoidance, or sequestration of greenhouse
gas emissions from energy supply and use; and

(5) Utility models that make the social and financial
interests of Hawaii's utility customers a priority."

SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed
is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017;
provided that section 2 shall be repealed on January 31, 2046.

Report Title:

Department of Transportation; Renewable Energy; Working
Group

Description:

Establishes a clean ground transportation benchmark
framework to maximize consumer fuel savings, including a near term 2025 target
encouraging electric vehicle infrastructure buildout supporting Hawaii’s goal
for the reduction and ultimate elimination of the use of imported fuels for
ground transportation. Directs the department of transportation to collaborate
with the state energy office to develop recommendations to achieve those
benchmarks. (HB1580 HD1)

The
summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational
purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.